Syrian Opposition Launches Counteroffensive in East Damascus

Storyful•19 March 2017

Syrian opposition factions launched a counteroffensive in the eastern suburbs of Damascus on March 19, hitting Syrian army positions inside Jobar, located near the Al-Qaboun area, according to pro-opposition local media reports.

The offensive started when Tahrir al-Sham, formerly aligned with al-Qaeda, carried out two attacks against regime military positions in Jobar. Pro-opposition sources reported that the factions captured parts of Abbassiyyin Garage near the main Abbassiyyin Square in Damascus city.

The Syrian State Agency (SANA) denied the opposition claims and said that the Syrian army repelled the opposition offensive, however, pro-regime journalist Hassan Ridha reported that intense fighting was taking place in the area around the Abbassiyyin Garage on March 19.